The Bachelor of Music in Music Education program prepares students to teach, through an integrated sequence of academic coursework, music skills refinement, and pre-service internship in urban and suburban educational settings. Successful completion of this degree program is one of the qualifications required to apply for teaching certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Certification allows the graduate to teach general music, vocal and instrumental, in grades PreK-12.

The undergraduate program provides two options: 4-year Traditional and 5-year Jazz – each with its own audition requirements and curricula. Students may choose to pursue a dual degree, such as music education and performance.

Graduate programs at Boyer are a top choice for those who live and work nearby while others choose to relocate from out-of-state or abroad. Graduate students choose Boyer for a variety of reasons:

To earn continuing education units to maintain certification

To develop greater focus on musicianship and music education studies

To learn to critically review, design, analyze and report research

To aspire to a career in higher education

To become an effective public school administrator

Boyer can provide an individualized course of study for graduate students interested in meeting any of these goals.

M.M. Music Education
The Master of Music in Music Education program provides advanced study through specialization in practice, research, or both. A degree in music education is required. The degree culminates with a final project or thesis.

The program consists of required core courses in music education, applied music, and music studies. The majority of the program focuses on elective courses, allowing students to identify a specialty. The master’s degree track provides a flexible schedule that allows working professionals to take evening courses and offers teaching and research assistantships for qualified candidates.

M.M.: Music Education plus Certification
The Masters Plus Certification program is a perfect option for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in music and wish to acquire teaching licensure in Pennsylvania. The Masters Plus Certification program allows qualified candidates (those who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in music) the opportunity to enroll at Temple as a graduate student in the M.M. in Music Education degree program and simultaneously complete an array of courses that prepare them for Pennsylvania teaching licensure.

Ph.D. Music Education
The Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education focuses on the confluence of research and practice and provides a forum for the candidate to hone musical and academic skills while training for the professoriate. Applicants must hold at least one degree in Music Education. A minimum of three years' successful elementary or secondary teaching experience is required. The degree culminates with a written dissertation.

The Ph.D. track prepares graduates for university-level teaching and research. This program provides a flexible schedule that allows working professionals to take evening courses and offers teaching and research assistantships for qualified candidates. Boyer Ph.D. graduates teach in universities throughout the United States and abroad.

Music Education at the Boyer College of Music and Dance has a long and distinguished tradition at Temple University. Originally housed within the College of Education until the early 1960s, it became the flagship program within Temple’s College of Music, now recognized as the Boyer College of Music and Dance. Music education students study with exceptional faculty and perform in ensembles that cover a broad range of repertoire. They can also take advantage of the 300 faculty, student and guest artist concerts on campus each year.

Alumni serve as ambassadors to the College, teaching in a variety of urban and suburban settings or conducting a broad range of musical genres -- from show choirs, to jazz bands, string ensembles, marching bands, Orff ensembles and techno-pop groups.

Music education programs at the Boyer College are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Why Choose Music Education at Boyer?

Upon successful completion of the program and achieving passing scores on the Praxis Series Assessments, undergraduate students qualify for Instructional I Pennsylvania State Certification, a requirement for teaching choral, instrumental, or classroom music in Pennsylvania, K-12

Pennsylvania Certification is automatically reciprocal with over 20 states

Students observe in a variety of PreK-12 classrooms in both urban and suburban schools, and participate in pre-service intern experiences as well as supervised student teaching externships

B.M. candidates may choose to pursue a dual degree with music performance or therapy

The Department’s established history of pioneering important work in music learning theory

Graduate programs provide a flexible schedule for working professionals, and elective courses allowing for diverse specializations

Graduate and undergraduate research opportunities

National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
Music education students are invited to join the Boyer chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), which also provides membership to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA). Members receive these publications: PMEA News, Music Educators Journal, and Teaching Music. NAfME members also benefit from presentations by visiting professional music educators and regular meetings with colleagues. The chapter sends members to the annual Pennsylvania Music Educators Association conference.